Instinct

The international photography exhibition that explores the relationship between animals and humans.

Cankarjev dom Exhibitions Instinct

In collaboration with Membrana

The group exhibition Instinct represents the works of an international team of artists, who explore how the relationship between animals and humans is ideologically emphasized or concealed with images, and how the concept of instinct defines the process of photography and the photographic representation.

The artists thematize the different aspects of animal representation and address the complex attitude of humans towards animals, their coexistence and the significance of all of this from different points of view: from the conceptual treatment of pets and their respective mythologies (Alexandra Soldatova), the anthropomorphic representation of animals in popular culture and the phenomenon of interspiecies subcultures (Anja Carr), the commercialization and aestheticization of animals, the wild and nature itself (Vanja Bučan), the technological modification of animal extracts in the pharmaceutical industry and the strategies for their advertising (Daniel Szalai), to taxidermy as a standard practice for the conservation of animal carcasses and their classification for the purpose of research and exhibition (Klaus Pichler).

Our daily life is overflowing with animal imagery that shape our attitude towards them, from countless photographs of domestic and exotic animals on social media, to fashion accessories with animal patterns. We surround ourselves with anthropomorphic animal toys, we attribute human traits to animals (and vice versa), we accept them as equal members of the family, we identify with them. Animals drive our consumer habits and lifestyle choices and also represent national and ideological symbols.

Jasna Jernejšek

With the cultural marginalization of animals, as John Berger describes the relationship of humans towards animals that took place throughout the 20th century, animals have become consumer goods. The coexistence and the magical belief that shaped the human attitude towards animals has long ago moved aside, making way for the capitalistic production process. Today, humans need animals mainly as a source of food, use them as amusement and spoil them as pets.

Nakup vstopnic

Instinct

First Foyer

20. Jun. - 25. Aug. 2019

Admission free

Alexandra Soldatova, The Great Dog, 2017–.

Daniel Szalai, Novogen, 2017–2018.

Klaus Pichler, Sceletons in the Closet, 2013.

Vanja Bučan, Bestiary, 2019.

/Accompanying program/*

THU, 20 June 2019

17:00 // Conversation with Maja Smrekar, intermedia artist, prof. dr. Alenka Dovč, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and graduate from the European College of Animal Welfare, and dr. Blaž Mazi, philosopher; moderated by Jasna Jernejšek, curator of the exhibition.

18:00 // Presentation of the new issue of the Membrana magazine with Jan Babnik and Ilija T. Tomanić, editors of the magazine.

18:30 // Guided exhibition with Jasna Jernejšek, curator of the exhibition, and Daniel Szalai, photographer (in English).

19:00 // Opening of the exhibition

*The accompanying programme will be conducted in Slovenian (with the exception of Daniel Szalai’s guided tour)

The project is funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport of the Republic of Slovenia and the EU European Social Fund.

/Workshops and guided exhibitions/

27 June 2019 at 10 am // Interpretation of photography workshop for seniors (duration 90 min, First Foyer of the Cankarjev Dom).

4 July 2019 at 3 pm // Guided tour through the dioramas of the Slovenian Museum of Natural History and the Instinct exhibition with Jasna Jernejšek (duration 90 min, starting at 3 pm in the Slovenian Museum of Natural History and continuing at 4 pm in the First Foyer of the Cankarjev Dom).

In cooperation with the Slovenian Museum of Natural History.

11 July 2019 at 5 pm // Guided tour of the Instinct exhibition with Emina Djukić.

18 July 2019 at 10 pm // Interpretation of photography workshop for kids (duration 90 min, starting at 10 am in the Slovenian Museum of Natural History and continuing at 11 am in the First Foyer of the Cankarjev Dom).

In cooperation with the Slovenian Museum of Natural History.

All guided exhibitions and workshops are free of charge.

Curator: Jasna Jernejšek

Associate professional: Emina Djukić

Accompanying text: Jasna Jernejšek

Exhibition layout: Emina Djukić, Jasna Jernejšek

Aid with the conduction of the exhibition and the accompanying program: Ajda Auer, David Bordon, Regina Jakšič, Lucija Rosc, Karin Rošker, Lana Špiler, Leopold Štefanič, Neža Ternik, Lea Topolovec

Production: Membrana

Co-production: Cankarjev Dom, Cultural and Congress Centre

The project was made possible by the: Department for Culture of the City of Ljubljana / Ministry of Education, Science and Sport of the Republic of Slovenia / Public Scholarship, Development, Disability and Maintenance Fund of the Republic of Slovenia / European Social Fund / Balassi Institute